Georgia, 1997

Flash Flooding in Georgia, November 21, 1997

November 21, 1997 · NWS FFC · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

Thunderstorms produced sudden heavy rains over the Atlanta metro area. The area mostly affected was from Lakewood Freeway through downtown Atlanta to Northside Drive on the north side of Atlanta.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS FFC wrote it up.

Thunderstorms produced sudden heavy rains over the Atlanta metro area. The area mostly affected was from Lakewood Freeway through downtown Atlanta to Northside Drive on the north side of Atlanta. I-75 from Lakewood through downtown was flooded. High water blocked all northbound and two southbound lanes of the I-75/I-85 connector stranding 40 cars. Motorists were forced to climb onto car tops and wait to be rescued by police and firefighters. More than 60 streets were closed due to high water. A foot of standing water was also reported on Scott Blvd and Memorial Drive in Decatur. Peachtree Creek near Peachtree Battle and Northside Drive in Atlanta overflowed its banks and flooded the basements of homes. Rainfall amounts during the evening hours ranged from 2 1/2 to 3 inches across much of the two county area.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, De Kalb

When
November 21, 7:00 PM EST to 9:00 PM EST
Where
De Kalb County, Decatur
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
33.772, -84.226 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Fulton

When
November 21, 8:35 PM EST to 9:40 PM EST
Where
Fulton County, Atlanta
Property damage
$45,000
Coordinates
33.790, -84.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Georgia in 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Georgia, November 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5621778, 5621779.